I love to try new things in the kitchen. Fortunately my family and friends are usually willing guinea pigs!
So what you'll find here is just what it says... "Just what's going on in my kitchen"... and sometimes my garden!

Friday, June 19, 2009

Baked Chicken Chimichangas

Normally if I'm making Chimichangas, I'd be using my Smoky Mexican Chicken and it would definitely be fried.

But I'm still trying to keeps things light at my house, so while the Smoky Mexican Chicken would definitely fit the bill... the frying definitely would not.

I think my spider cried a little... he's just been standing around in my Kitchenaid just waiting for the opportunity to dip into some hot oil and scoop out some yummy fried morsels.

Not to worry, I'm not giving up frying, just frying a little less. But last night, there was no hot oil action for spider.

I've been talking about my new favorite cookbook Foods and Flavors of San Antonio. Right away I decided to make the Chicken Chimichangas found on page 16. I also knew I'd try baking them. I refuse to give up taste or texture for a healthier dish, so I had my fingers crossed that baking would ruin them. And it DEFINITELY didn't!

I changed the recipe slightly because I couldn't find any canned tomatillos and the refresh one looked decidedly less than fresh! My changes are in green.

This smells amazing!! My recipe would typically smell like taco meat. But the addition of coriander, cinnamon and cloves gave it a completely different aroma. It kind of reminded me of mole.

Mmmmmm.... doesn't that look good?

Now put 3/4 cup of chicken mixture into the center of each tortilla. (one at a time, unless you have a gigantic counter)

Now normally I'd roll this like a burrito. Definitely not an easy shape to fry. The instruction in the recipe said to fold the sides in, then fold up the top and bottom. You end up with a little pocket shape.

This is so great! I love that you baked them and still get the same exterior texture but none of the added fat/calories. Poor little spider, but there will be other opportunities. I can see myself digging right into these for that delicious, savory filling . . . ! So very hungry now.